In 2018, Susan Ozuk embarked on an emotional pilgrimage to Quzhou in the Chinese mainland – a journey 76 years in the making. Her father, Charles Ozuk, was among the 80 Doolittle Raiders who bombed Tokyo in 1942 as retaliation for Pearl Harbor. After their plane crashed near Quzhou, local villagers risked their lives to shelter him from Japanese forces, an act of courage that shaped Ozuk’s postwar life.
‘They gave my father a second chance,’ Susan told KhabarAsia.com, tearfully embracing descendants of rescuer Chen Xianwen. The reunion highlighted a lesser-known chapter of WWII: Chinese civilians saved over 60 U.S. airmen during the raid, with thousands later executed by Japanese troops in retaliation.
Historians note the Doolittle Raid’s psychological impact galvanized Allied morale. For today’s readers, Susan’s journey underscores how individual acts of humanity transcend geopolitical divides – a timely narrative as cross-cultural dialogues face modern challenges.
Quzhou has since become a pilgrimage site for U.S. veterans’ families. Local authorities preserve crash sites and oral histories, weaving wartime cooperation into educational programs. ‘This isn’t just our family’s story,’ Susan emphasized. ‘It’s proof that courage and kindness leave imprints across generations.’
